MPs stress priority to road construction

Kathmandu, Sept. 12 (RSS): The House of Representatives at its meeting today continued discussions on the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works under the Appropriation Bill-2058.

A total of 17 MPs took part in the discussion.

Lalbabu Pandit of the CPN (UML) proposed a reduction of Rs 100 from the amount allocated for the ministry.

Taking part in the discussions, MPs of the ruling party demanded that agriculture roads be constructed in each district for the management of agricultural production and market, road construction and its black-topping work not be carried out in summer season, road projects which are not feasible from the technical point of view not be implemented, development programmes aimed at people's welfare be prioritised and more funds allocated for the Ministry so as to build infrastructures.

Those expressing their views on the occasion were NC MPs Sabitri Bogati Pathak, Ram Nath Adhikari, Ram Kumar Chaudhary, Hridayaram Thani, Dilliraj Sharma, Bharat Kumar Shah and Krishna Kishore Ghimire.

Similarly, opposition party MPs complained that the entire nation is now in the grip of the problems of road transport and drinking water, works of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works have not been effective for lack of regulations suitable to the present times, commission-mongering tendency has surfaced even in small projects, loans are received keeping in mind not our needs but the interests of donor agencies and the tend of shifting to cities and Terai from the hilly regions has increased for lack of development there.

They also drew the government's attention to the need of contructing highways for the development of hilly region, postal or Hulaki roads in Terai districts and providing clean drinking water across the country including the capital.

Those speaking on the occasion were CPN (UML) MPs Tirtha Gautam, Ganga Prasad Nepal, Tukraj Sigdel, Kamal Prakash Sunuwar, Rajendra Prakash Mainali, Prakash Jwala, Bhadra Bahadur Thapa and Ratna Prasad Sharma Neupane and RPP's Netralal Shrestha.

The discussion will continue tomorrow also. The House will meet at 11 am tomorrow.

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